All About Fish

Fish search

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Aquarium tanks are very often perched on aquarium cabinets and are displayed and sold together in a fish shop. The tank size corresponds to the size of the cabinet. In fact, the cabinets are meant to be used as a base for the tanks of aquarium. The cabinets normally comprise of a cupboard below the place where the tank is placed. This acts as a good storage place for your equipment that is unused everyday such as flaky fish food (other fish food needs to be stored in deep freezer), spare heaters, filters and ornaments, etc.

Aquarium cabinets are generic or can be made to order and exhibit a wide range of different sizes and colors. If you have made up your mind as to what exactly you want as an aquarium cabinet, you can get one custom made for you though it might prove very expensive. Generic cabinets are also of various sizes and shapes. They are meant to withstand and accommodate the various sizes of tanks and can be even up to six feet long. The aquarium cabinets normally come in pine, maple or black and the design style is generally a cupboard having shelves.

All pet shops and fish shops have aquarium cabinets. Although a bigger cabinet may not be available in your pet store locally, it is worthwhile to shop for a bigger cabinet in a specialized fish store. The cabinet has more of a decorative value as it enhances the effect of a fish aquarium compared to when it is placed on a table or other unsightly stands. The cabinet adds a touch of class to your aquarium.

There is a lot of difference in a generic aquarium cabinet and a custom made one. Custom made aquarium cabinet is made keeping in mind the decor of your house set up and often goes hand in hand with your tastes and preferred styles. Depending on the style and the size of the aquarium cabinet that you want, it may take about four to five weeks to be ready. You can select the style that you like, whether with open shelves or drawers. Irrespective of whether it is custom made or generic, an aquarium cabinet will definitely add to the beauty of your fish tank. They may be expensive but you will feel that your money is well spent when you behold the enhanced beauty of the aquarium mounted on the aquarium cabinet.

Markets are a resource of a variety of fishes including the freshwater, coldwater and tropical fishes. Apart from these one can also find the saltwater and Seawater fishes. People who have written about fishes have pointed out to the saltwater fish also called the damsels as a species which are one of the top starter fishes. What they must know is that there are around 22000 species of fishes suitable for the fish tanks and some of these fishes are ideal for starters even more so than those damsels. It takes more effort in maintaining salt water fishes. water conditions and feeding patterns have to be carefully monitored. In order to settle on the ideal fish for starters one has to learn about fishes in general. In this article, we will look into fresh water fish even as we know starters are nicer with coldwater and freshwater fishes.

Shark fish which is black in colour and has a red tail is called Labeo Bicolor. Thailand is the home of this fish which grows to a maximum of 4.5 inches. Labeo Bicolor is shaped like a torpedo and is vary popular because of the way it looks. Just like the shark, this fish has a dorsal which looks like a flag and complements its silvery colour.This fish which is black in colour feels velvety and has a red tail which gives it a different look. This fish is not suited to be kept in tanks as known from one of its traits. One such trait is the yellow and orange caudal fins. This fish is very friendly though which makes it an ideal candidate for aquariums maintained by communities.

Just like the sucker which cleans the glass of the tank and the plants kept in them with the help of its mouth suitable to this job, the Labeo Bicolor also carries out similar responsibilities in the communal aquariums where they are kept. They thus are happy in communal waters but do not tolerate fishes from other families. Being a forager Labeo lives on algae and other foodstuff. Labeo is not fussy about the condition of water and makes sure the tank is sparkling clean at all times. One important thing to be noted though is that if one chooses to go in for this fish, he or she must make sure other fishes in the tank are those which can effectively adapt to the same living conditions. There are fishes that will easily adapt to acidic waters which are soft and there are those others which will adapt to alkaline waters which are hard. It is advisable to go through every detail regarding the nature and habits of this fish before going in for purchasing them for your aquarium.

One more breed of fishes which grow up to one and a half inches in size and feature olive or brown skins are the White Cloud Mountain Minnows or the Tanichthys Albonubes. These fishes have their origin in the White Cloud Mountain rivers in China and Canton.This fish has attractive stripes which goes all the way to the snout and roots of the caudal or the peduncle of the tail. Its adjusting nature and preference for all types of food stuff make the White Cloud Fish best suited for communal tanks. Water conditions can be neutral or hard for this species of fish. Ideal temperature would be about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, definitely not 70 degree Fahrenheit. Though a lot of fishes of other species generally prefer a temperature of 80 degrees, the White Cloud Mountain are the cold water types. Males of this species are not as plump as their female counterpart.

Minnows Breeding the White Cloud If you have ever bred the Brachydanio, then you can breed the White Cloud Fish in the same way. Brachydanios including Rerio require you to line the bottom of the aquarium with pebbles of one and a half inch diameter. You must make sure water is not more than three inches deep. These fish are happier in longer aquariums.

Cabinets for aquariums are got mostly when you purchase the tank itself. The cabinet's size determines the tank size. Most of the time the cabinets prove to be the stands for the tank. Cabinets also usually have a cupboard below where the tank is kept. This place is ideal for storage, of those items that you do not use too often like for example, ornaments, spare heaters, filters, and also food for the fish in case of it being the flake variety otherwise food alone should be stored in the freezer.

The aquarium cabinets come in different sizes and dimensions, different colours and you may even get one custom built to suit you or you can have a cabinet for a certain category of fish collecting. Ones that are custom made are pretty expensive even though it fits your requirements. The generic ones are also in different colours and sizes. They are made to bear any tank size so they generally stretch about 6 feet long and are made from maple or pine, the style generally followed is the cupboard with many shelves.

These cabinets are commonly available in all stores. But in case of large cabinets it would be ideal to go to a specialised store and not the pet local store. These cabinets are used mostly for decoration purposes as placing the tank on other things would be a bad sight and they are also dangerous. The cabinet adds to the look by making the set up more spicy and happening.

A custom made cabinet is vastly different from the generic cabinets. The custom ones are tailor made to suit your needs. The size, colour, shelves or drawers etc. it takes anything between four to five weeks to get one done this would depend on the dimensions and the style of the cabinet you want to build. But be it a custom or a generic one, the cabinet must add to the beauty of the aquarium! Though they are costly, it is worth the amount you spend on them!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The aquarium tank has to be chosen with great care. You cannot buy the tank just on your whim. It has to be suitable for what you are planning to buy and put inside the tank. The tanks may be used for various purposes, you can decorate them, add fish to them and add amphibians and corals. These are different things and might need differing tanks as well with different elements in the tank. Fish is comparatively easy to keep, corals are rather hard.

Corals require an aquarium with the marine kind of set up, so the usage of salt water is a must. The lighting has to be intense and the salt content has to be at 0.7 which is the normal level for corals and fishes that need hard water. Corals are extremely beautiful looking rocks, with various colours and different types, they are a kind of anemones. Anemones resemble little fingers that are sitting on rocks or plants and the sight is simply great to look at. Saltwater fishes can also be added to these tanks with corals.

Amphibians on the other hand are easier to care for and all they require is a normal amount of water and other elements that are associated with their natural habitats. Some of them like snakes and turtles need baths and this can be provided. Make sure you provide enough space for free movement for the fishes and others they need to be able to move and play around comfortably without the risk of becoming disfigured and growing problems.

Fishes are the easiest to be kept in the tank environment and they require water to be filled to the full. Proper lighting, heater and filter equipments are needed. You can put different types of fishes in the tank but the may require different elements in the tank. Hence you need to ensure the tank suits the type of fish you intend to keep.

Aquariums are the vital part of the tanks set up. You have to ensure that the tank and animal type suit each other. If this is not done then the fishes will not live for long. Because the tanks are very costly they are made to be safe through the usage of safety glass so that you will not have breakage problems.

If you have recently purchased your aquarium from a pet shop chances are that the system was fully set up for you. Such an aquarium will in all probability be self sufficient and can take care of itself for extended periods of time. However, it is important to know how to take care of your aquarium manually too. It is important to keep a tab on the water conditions of the aquarium. The type of fish you keep in the tank as well as the kind and quantity of water plants in the tank play an important role in keeping the water clean and the fish healthy.

Many tropical fish are used to living in softwater, tetras for example thrive in rain water. This means that the water has got to be as near to purity as possible. This is why it is important to get a hold of a hydrometer to test the hardness of the tank water frequently. This is easily available from any fish store. If you find that the water is getting hard it is best that you add some fresh water to the tank at regular intervals after removing some of the out of the tank.

So how do you go about avoiding the hardening of water? First of all do not use limestone as a lining at the bottom of the tank. This is a sure way of hardening the water and is a resort used in saltwater tanks. Regularly test the water for hardness as explained above. Add fresh water to the tank to soften the water regularly. When you notice white deposits on the aquarium glass it is an indication that the water is hardening. While testing the pH of the water with a hydrometer remember that the natural level of the pH is 7. Try to maintain this level.

Try not to keep the aquarium too crowded with aquatic plants. Fish need freedom to dart around or cruise and the plants do tend to get in their way. besides this you cannot enjoy the full pleasure of the fish as the plants tend to hide them from view.

Keep the temperature of the water at 20 degrees. This is a comfortable level and the fish will stay healthy and lively. There are automatic heaters available at the local pet store and you can get yourself a handy one at a very reasonable price. These heaters are set to maintain the temperature of the water automatically so you do not have to worry.

You must also get your tank a water filter. This is a pumping mechanism that sucks water into the tank and sends it through a membrane filter. It cleans the water very effectively and needs to be manually cleaned with boiled water at regular intervals like once in 6 weeks. Remember not to over clean the filter as the bacteria on it is important. this bacteria helps in cleaning the water of fish excreta.

The water filter serves two other important purposes as well. It circulates the water in the tank and splashes the surface of the water constantly allowing the water to absorb oxygen.

If you have all this in your tank and you know know to take care of the instruments your fish will be happier, healthier and your tank will look good longer.

1. Getting a customized Saltwater aquarium and its inmates is the dream of many who love fishy friends, but knowing you can learn a thing or two from the experts can help reduce the cost of buying a custom-made one. You can buy the tank for storing your saltwater fish easily enough from the local pet store and chalk out a tentative budget for your project to include ornamentation and accessories for it.

2. Cleaning out the aquarium is the first step after buying the tank; it is equally important to cleanse the different parts with freshwater (minus soft) with a soft cloth to rid them of dust and chemicals that may have built-up during storage, which may harm the fish.

3. Set the tank on a steady stand a little away from a wall so electrical cords and the plug outlet is accessible without the risk of causing any accidents as periodic cleaning and feeding the fish will be required. Keep a soft dusting cloth handy near the aquarium to control condensation from the saltwater tank as this can damage the stand. After ensuring level installation, fill the tank with store-bought saltwater or you can prepare a solution of your own. Run all tank equipment for a couple of days to test proper functioning and to judge saline, pH and temp levels of the tank water for the species of marine fish you intend to keep in the tank.

4. After the tank water conditions have been tested, you can move to the final level i.e. aquarium landscaping by removing about half of the water to decorate it with plants, fronds and rocks etc. as reducing water levels helps make landscaping easier. After this has been attended to, you can once again replace the water marked previously by you as being the fill-line measure. (Use a permanent marker for this).

It is strongly recommended that to begin keeping an aquarium, a minimum one-month period be kept aside to determine the ammonia level of the water and the conditions being favorable for the kind of marine fish you want to keep in it; you can choose to do this with the saltwater fish kept inside or minus them.

Do not use an ammonia reducer as this will require you to go over the same process again in order to determine the ammonia content in your tank's living conditions and rob you of precious time in which you can lie back and enjoy your marine friends swimming about!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Building a marine aquarium isn't for the casual fish fan. Marine aquariums are heavy-duty projects that are time consuming and need lots of attention. However, for those wishing to make one, the time is worth it in the end.

There are three different types of marine aquariums to build: fish only, fish with live rock and reef aquariums. This is a difficult task to maintain because there are different levels that must always be upheld and the marine aquarium must be on constant watch. The pH level, temperature and salt level have to be carefully assessed. The salt level is most important because with either too little or too much your life forms won't survive.

Most salt tanks require a 1.6 or 1.7 salt level. There are kits and books available to assist you in getting the right salt level in your tank. There are monitoring tools available as well. Salt water tanks are little more difficult to uphold than its freshwater counterparts.

When it comes to the pH level, you want to get fish, rocks or reefs that need the same pH to survive. This makes maintaining the marine aquarium easier since you only have to worry about the tank being at one pH level.

The filter system isn't going to be like any other you have seen on fish tanks. The filter systems for marine aquariums are expensive and you usually have to go through a specialty shop or catalog to get what you need. It's almost double the price of a freshwater aquarium.

Another thing to consider is the lights for the marine aquarium. Lights are normally cyclical to represent day and night in the aquariums. In fish only tanks this is not that big of a deal, but in tanks where there are algae or other types of organisms this is very important.

Marine aquariums are especially beautiful because of the types of things you can add to it. Besides having gorgeous fish, you can add coral and reefs. This gives the marine aquarium a realistic feel and provides more depth to the environment. You can have shrimp and crab as well, giving your marine aquarium a distinct look.

Because this type of system is complex and time consuming, only build a marine aquarium if you have the time and resources. It's a fantastic aquarium when finished, but it's only for those willing to put in the time and effort.